Thank you, thank you, thank you. You've
really made a big difference for me in
understanding my dog a little better, and
enjoying my time with him so much more. I am
sure my cats are grateful too. :) You are so
generous with me. With things and with your
time and advise. Thank you, Denise.
Lana & Markus
EXPECT RESULTS
Teaching you and your
dog in real-life situations.
925-285-9194
Denise Collins
Dog Trainer &
Behavior Coach
denise@italkdog.com
I was overwhelmed about
bringing home our new puppy
until I met with Denise.  She
came to our house a week
before we brought Freddie
home and helped us set up the
house for his arrival.  She gave
us a list of what to buy, helped
set up his "area", told us where
his "potty spot" should be, and
gave us a puppy schedule.  All
this information was invaluable.  
Having a plan for our puppy
relieved a lot of anxiety and
stress. I would encourage
anyone who is getting a puppy
to meet with Denise.  Our family
can't thank her enough!
The Krey family
... I consulted with Denise and
she was a tremendous help in
showing me how I was
undermining my efforts to be the
alpha dog.
Helene
I have been fortunate to have Denise Collins both
on my advanced training courses and work with
her as a fellow trainer. She has a natural affinity for
the needs of families and their dogs.  With a
commitment to helping owners and dogs live
happy lives together Denise achieves success
overcoming the multitude of behavior problems
and training issues we face with dogs today. A
keen eye for both human and canine flaws she
has the ability to support, train and help both dog
and owner.  And that is a rarity today.
Martin Deeley, CDT
Consultant and Advisor to Cesar Millan
Exec Director International Association of
Canine Professional
www.floridadogtrainer.com
www.internationaldogschool.com
www.canineprofessionals.com
Choosing The Right Dog For Your Family
The world would be a much better place for dogs, if we spent the time carefully considering our
lifestyle and how a dog would fit into it, prior to looking at a litter of puppies or walking into a shelter.

Why do you want a dog?  
Do you think it would be a good experience for your children?  
How old are they?  If they are under seven years old, they will not be responsible enough to care for
a dog.  If they are over seven years old, they can help with some of the care, but the responsibility
will remain with the parents.

Consider what your family likes to do.  Are both parents working?  Do the kids have a lot of after
school activities?  Do they play sports on the weekends?  If a family is this busy, it's not fair to bring
a dog into the house.  Dogs need at least two walks a day with some mentally stimulating play time.
 Otherwise they will make their own fun.  This can be digging up the drip system, chewing on walls
and doors, getting into the garbage, chewing shoes and couches, or all of the above and incessant
barking, too.

If you decide you have the time, then what is your energy level?
Do you like to sit on the couch after working all day? If so, you would not want a high energy dog.
You would not want a smart dog either.  Smart dogs are not content to sit on the couch and do
nothing.  I know which breeds of dogs, have low energy and are near the bottom of the list for
intelligence. Remember, this is not a bad thing. You will be much happier with a dog that is content
to relax with you.

What do you want to do with the dog?  Do you want to run 3 miles with your dog on the weekend?  
Do you like to hike on the trails and have your dog off leash?  Do you want a dog that can
accompany you on your errands, attend soccer games and sit by your side without wanting to
chase the ball and the kids?  

Do you care if the dog sheds or has to be groomed?  Depending on their coat, a dog may require
brushing every day and seeing the groomer every six weeks.  Or they could be a wash and wear
dog that requires weekly brushing, with very little shedding, and a bath every month or two.

You need to decide whether to get a puppy or choose an older dog from rescue.  
The joys of puppyhood come with a huge time commitment.  There will be getting up in the middle
of the night to let the puppy out to go potty.  There will be crying in the crate because they're lonely.  
There is potty training, socializing the puppy to the sights and sounds of the world, meeting other
dogs and lots of other training to have a well mannered pup.

Getting a young dog from rescue comes with its set of problems.  They might be fearful of the world
because they have not been socialized as puppies.  They could have separation anxiety.  They
might be aggressive toward dogs.

These are all the things that I can help discuss with individuals and families considering getting a
puppy or dog. Once the decision is made, I can help find the right puppy from a breeder or find a
dog from rescue and evaluate the dogs personality to see if it would be a match.

If careful thought and consideration goes into the choice of the right dog for a family, chances are
the dog will not be returned to the breeder or given back to a rescue.

Now with all the above questions answered, you have chosen a puppy or a dog.  I can help you with
setting up your home before you bring the puppy or dog home.